Page 20 of Deranged (American Street Kings 3)

My feet managed to move back and away from him. Step by step, I retreated before tearing my gaze from him and rushing out of The Hanged Man.

8

Onyx

I watched her storm out.For a second, I contemplated going after her, but deep down, I knew the better option was to let her go. It was a good thing, the way she rushed off and away from me. Away from this place. I didn’t need another person to care about—not with this war raging. And there was something threatening in her eyes, something that lured me in. A hunt for secrets, a chase for the darkness I saw lurking behind pale blue eyes.

Her scent still lingered even though she was gone. She smelled like fruit and lush forests—tantalizing and sweet, with a hint of mysterious complexity. If it was any other place, any other time, I would have had my hands all over her body right about now. But this was not the place, and definitely not the time. Not for me, anyway.

“Yo, Onyx. You ready?”

I turned and found Manic waiting for me by the base of the stairs. “Yeah, I’m coming.”

Wraith’s glass of whiskey was standing untouched on the bar. I picked it up and downed it with one large gulp, relishing the sting as it traveled down to settle in my stomach. Woman had taste in alcohol, I’d give her that.

Moving through the crowd, I approached the stairs and took two at a time on my way up. Ink emerged from Neon’s room at the same time a shoe came flying over his head. He ducked and looked back into the room just in time for a boot to hit him in the face.

“Jesus, woman. Calm the fuck down.”

“I said get out!” Neon’s voice cracked down the hall, followed by the slam of the door.

I snickered as Ink came walking toward me. “Where’s a fucking horse tranquilizer when you need one?”

“Why do you keep on doing this to yourself?”

“Doing what?”

We sauntered into the kitchen and out the back door. “Neon doesn’t want you, man.”

“Yeah, she does. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

All I could do was shake my head. The guy was a fucking masochist and refused to take no for an answer when it came to that woman.

As we passed Granite and Alyx’s room, Granite came out and shut the door. “Onyx, wait up.” He shot Ink a look that said, ‘fuck off, please.’

Nowthatmessage Ink got loud and clear. Getting hit in the face by a boot was too subtle, apparently.

Granite turned to face me. “You ready for this?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Listen, I’ll admit there was a time when I doubted your place as VP. But Dad believed in you, and now…so do I.” He placed his hands on my shoulders, trying his best to give me the most reassuring look any brother could give. “You can do this. And I’m proud to see you step up like this to protect the crew.”

“Thanks, man.”

“I got your back.”

The bedroom door opened, and Alyx peeked out. “Everything okay?”

“Yup,” Granite assured her. “Be back in a few.”

She nodded then looked at me, smiling. Alyx was no longer sickeningly thin and pale. Ever since the whole Tanit ordeal, Alyx had become stronger, and it was good to see her take care of herself. It was good to see her with Granite, seeing how happy she made him. Not a single one of us could blame Granite for wanting to protect her. She was worth protecting.

I shot her a knowing look and walked off, following Granite across the outer corridor.

“I don’t suppose I get your mini outside apartment now, do I?”

“Not a chance.”

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